Jazz meets Classical
A six-part music documentary series, exploring the surprising similarities between Classical and Jazz music.
6x 1hr, by Folded Wing, first aired January 2022
One is heard in grand halls, the other in smoky basements – to many, they are worlds apart, but Jazz meets Classical will aim to show otherwise.
Stravinsky wrote for big bands, Duke Ellington composed a symphony and virtuosos like Keith Jarrett have hopped between the two for decades, showing that one enriches the other.
In this unique series, Scala Radio’s Jack Pepper and Jazz FM’s China Moses will explore the exciting places where genres blur by looking back, and forward, with performances from the leading musicians of today.
Episode 1: Composers – 9th Jan
Composer Jack Pepper and jazz musician China Moses take a look at composers – interesting figures, underrated names and some all-time greats – playing music from Duke Ellington to Darius Milhaud, and investigating George Gershwin’s classic Rhapsody in Blue at the piano. The multiple Grammy award-winning composer and jazz orchestra leader Maria Schneider is this week’s guest – she tells China that learning how music makes us feel was a key step at the start of her genre blurring career, which has taken in collaborations with everyone from soprano Dawn Upshaw to pop chameleon David Bowie.
Episode 2: Performers – 16th Jan
Music from Nina Simone and André Previn. Focusing in on Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grappelli’s version of Cheek to Cheek. The house band play Bach. This week’s guest is Nigel Kennedy.
Episode 3: Connections – 23rd Jan
Music from Shostakovich and Mary Lou Williams. Focusing in on Dave Brubeck’s Blue Rondo A La Turk performed with the London Symphony Orchestra. The house band play Bizet. This week’s guest is Terence Blanchard.
Episode 4: Teachers and Influencers – 30th Jan
Music from Ravel and Quincy Jones. Focusing in on Clair de Lune and Kamasi Washington’s version. The house band play George Russell. This week’s guest is Gary Crosby.
Episode 5: Improvisation and Interpretation – 6th Feb
Music from Betty Carter and Handel. Focusing in Robert Mitchell and Shirley Smart’s take on CPE Bach. The house band play Wayne Shorter. This week’s guest is Angel Blue.
Episode 6 Arrangements – 13th Feb
Music from Leonard Bernstein and Ella Fitzgerald. Focusing in on Kurt Weill’s Mack the Knife, as sung by Dee Dee Bridgewater. The house band play Duke Ellington. This week’s guest is Jules Buckley.
